by Terry Mulligan

Created on: November 20, 2010

For fifteen years I had the good fortune of working with one of the most knowledgeable carpet experts on the West Coast of Florida.  As an interior decorator, he was a valuable resource to me and he taught me everything I know about purchasing and caring for carpet.

One of the first things my mentor taught me was that most people don’t understand the true basics of carpet care.  They don’t understand what makes it flatten, mat or accumulate dirt and debris; they only know what they’ve been “sold.”  After reading this article, however, you will have all the information you need to protect your investment by properly cleaning and maintaining your carpet.

•  Vacuum Often

First and foremost, carpet must be vacuumed often. 

When your new carpet is installed, it will still contain a large amount of small loose fibers from the mill.  For the first 2-3 weeks after installation, you will need to vacuum your carpet daily to remove these loose fibers.  If the small fibers are not removed, they can mix with household dirt and attach themselves to the carpet pile.  This can cause the carpet to mat or flatten and quickly reduce the life of your flooring. 

Frequent vacuuming after installation removes the loose fibers.  If you are unable to vacuum the entire room daily, at least vacuum the high traffic areas where the fibers are more likely to be ground into the pile where people walk the most.  From weeks 3-4, you can decrease the frequency to vacuuming twice a week.  By week 5, you can begin a normal maintenance pattern of vacuuming at least once a week to remove dirt and debris.

•  Never Walk Barefoot

Many people believe they can keep their carpet cleaner if they take off their shoes to walk on the carpet.  This is only partially true.  If you remove your shoes, you need to keep your socks on and never walk barefoot on your carpet.  The natural oils from your feet are a magnet to dirt and debris.  It would actually be better to wipe off your shoes at the door and walk on the carpet with clean shoes rather than walk on it barefoot.

•  Do Not Shampoo With Soaps

This is where so many people go wrong with carpet care.  Shampooing your carpet with soap – either with a DIY machine or having it done professionally – can actually leave a soap residue in your flooring that attracts and traps more dirt in the pile.  As a matter

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